100 words - Beauty

At times when there is reason to be cynical, some proof of real benevolence and human civilization is always welcome. Here’s one such proof.
An anonymous benefactor donated a 15th century book of hymns in pristine condition to a library. Its worth is estimated at several million euros. It used to belong to a family of Italian princes, and its blues, golds, monkeys in the margins and idyllic pictures on many pages make it a treasure. Here’s what I mean:

Both the book and the news item reinforce my belief in the basic goodness of human nature. Long live art!